Torchwood for BBC1?

News that the master tapes for the BBC1 Autumn drama “Robin Hood” has prompted speculation that Torchwood may receive it’s premier airing not on BBC3 as scheduled, but on BBC1…

According to tabloid The Mirror a Â£1 million ransom has been demanded by the thieves, thought to be East European gangsters.

According to an “insider”:

“This is an absolute disaster. There’s no back up recording.”

Another insider disclosed: “With the master tapes gone, there’s no way the series can start as planned.

Unless we get them back, the programme will have to be delayed.

“The cast are gutted. So much hard work has gone into making this series. They can’t believe the tapes have been nicked.”

Meanwhile the BBC and co-producers Tiger Aspect have issued a joint statement:

“Tiger Aspect has been the victim of a break-in in Hungary where Robin Hood is currently being filmed and some high-definition tapes and other equipment have been stolen.

“The thefts are causing inconvenience and have resulted in a delay in finalising some of the episodes. Tiger Aspect is taking all reasonable steps to recover the tapes.”

While they seem to be playing down the incident – it seems likely that either the crooks will be paid off or else huge chunks of the Â£8 million show (destined for an October launch) will have to be reshot.

Reshooting will be costly and time-consuming, and with Doctor Who not ready until March, it seems likely that if the BBC want to develop loyalty to the 7pm Saturday BBC1 slot, they’ll opt either for a repeat of Doctor Who or a first run of Torchwood.

This information is also reported on BBC News. “Robin Hood” co-stars Sam Troughton, grandson of Second Doctor actor Patrick.

And while we wait to see what the BBC do (subliminal message: move Torchwood!!!), the Torchwood.tv blog suggests which days of the week would be best suited to the show – I’ll leave you with this:

SATURDAY – Hip, modern science fiction that isn’t afraid to capture audience’s hearts everywhere. Torchwood’s ideal home, but with Robin Hood around the corner, has Torchwood been shoehorned out of its natural home?

A long-term Doctor Who fan, Christian grew up watching the show and has early memories of the Graham Williams era. His favourite stories are Inferno, The Seeds of Doom and Human Nature (although The Empty Child, Blink and Utopia all come close). When he’s not bossing around the news team, Christian is a freelance writer specialising in mobile technology and domestic computing, and enjoys classic rock, cooking and spending time in the countryside with his wife and young children. You can find him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.